DEAR DR. GOTT: We’ve just returned from a visit with our son, who is currently living in China. He is experiencing extreme numbness in the tip of the long middle finger of his right hand. This happened once before and lasted a few days. This time, however, it has lasted close to a month.
He won’t be returning home to the states until late summer, and I’m concerned about waiting so long before seeking help. Would acupuncture possibly be helpful? Any suggestions as to the cause of possible treatment would be greatly appreciated.
DEAR READER: There are a number of possibilities, including a thiamine or vitamin B12 deficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, nerve impingement and damage, cervical herniation of C 6-7, carpal-tunnel syndrome, kidney failure or the result of chronic alcoholism. These seem rather unlikely, so my best guess is that the problem is coming directly from his hand.
Something is going on with your son that either he has ignored or has chosen not to address. The issue here is that he needs to have testing done to zero in on the exact cause of the numbness. He can likely wait until he returns home; however, I am sure that he can see a qualified physician before he gets here. If he cannot find relief through his doctor, he can ask for a referral for a second opinion, perhaps from a hand specialist.
Trigger-point therapy has proven successful for numerous conditions. Because acupuncture has many similarities, he certainly might find relief going that route. It’s worth a try.
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